Second+Welsh++2

[[image:American_Flag_Panel_Stained_Glass.jpg width="297" height="254" align="right" caption="Should people own guns?"]]
=__Amendment 2__=


 * By Eddie B., Adrian V. and Mark V.**


 * __What does my amendment state?__

" A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free states the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

__What does this mean?__

This means that states have the right to allow their citizens to keep weapons in their homes because a militia of citizens might be needed for protection of the state. So pretty much this amendment means that citizens of a state can own a weapon for protection and the needed militia.

__When was it ratified? Who thought of it? When was it written?__

This amendment was ratified on December 15,1791. James Madison thought of the Bill of Rights which included the Second Amendment, so he is technically the person who thought of this amendment. This amendment took a long process until the final version was created, but its final copy was made on September 21, 1789. __Why was this amendment ratified back then?__

This amendment was ratified back then because in order to be in a militia you must own a weapon, and back then each state had its own militia so this amendment was important. A militia is a military force made up of citizens that are known to get ready for a battle at a minutes notice.

__What are some controversies with this amendment today?__

The controversies with this amendment today are some people think that the second amendment shouldn't be existing because many people are killed by shootings each year, but other people still believe that the Second Amendment should be around because they think that guns are needed for protection. This is a big controversy today because events like the Virginia Tech Massacre are happening.

__Virginia Tech Massacre:__

On April 16, 2007 32 students at Virginia Tech college were killed in a shooting. This relates to this amendment because there was a shooting, but also the man who got the gun and killed the 32 students wasn't supposed to have a gun. The man was dangerously mentally ill and he got semiautomatic pistols and high-capacity ammunition. If there were better restrictions on guns 32 lives would have been saved. This guy shouldn't have gotten those guns and ammunition. To find more information on this go to:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/opinion/08tue2.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Progress or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Tech_massacre

__What is being done today to help gun restriction laws?__

On January 8, 2008 President George Bush signed a bill that prevents people on the mentally ill list to have a gun. This was the response to the Virginia Tech Massacre. Also, in Charleston, South Carolina, 32 people layed on Broad Street to represent the 32 victims in the Virginia Tech Massacre. So, for now on people that are mentally ill can not own a weapon. To find more information on this go to:**


 * http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_010808_bush_gun_bills.2a7bd9b.html**

__N.R.A.:__
__**What is the N.R.A?**__


 * The N.R.A. is the Na[[image:http://www.concealcarryoh.com/NRA_WebCC.jpg width="246" height="266" align="left" caption="The N.R.A."]]tional Rifle Association. They are the people who support people having guns for protection, hunting and firearm safety. The N.R.A was established in New York in 1871. The N.R.A is very serious about its gun laws. For more information on this go to: http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?ID=83 or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association**


 * __Is it true that the N.R.A. is working with the Brady Campaign?__

Yes, this is true the N.R.A. is working together with the Brady Campaign. These two associations used to be enemies because the N.R.A. wants people to have weapons, but the Brady Campaign doesn't want people to have weapons. Now they have to work together because of President George Bush signing that bill. These two associations are putting together a list of the mentally ill in the United States. The Virginia Tech Massacre happened because of a mentally ill person. For more information on the Brady Campaign go to: http://www.bradycampaign.org/**

__Current Events[[image:http://www.expertclick.com/images/YBUpload/brady.jpg width="319" height="208" align="right" caption="The Brady Campaign"]]__

 * Posted by Eddie B.:**

By USA Today
 * __1 Dead, 2 Injured in Shooting in Market__

On Sunday, January 6, 2008 there was a shooting in a market in California. A man that was 25 years old took his girlfriend and her little sister hostage and he shot with a pistol at customers in a market. The man's girlfriend worked at the market and was shot by the man. The girlfriend's little sister was shot also and was in critical condition on a helicopter ride to a nearby hospital. It's unknown if the girlfriend's little sister worked at the market. The man shot at four of the customers and hit only one. The customers that were shot thought that a balloon had popped instead of bullets being fired at them. The girlfriend and the customer that was shot both were face non-life-threatening wounds, and the man that was shooting at the market was shot and killed by an officer right after the shooting. The two girls were taken to Child Protective Services.

This article definitely relates to the Second Amendment because it was a shooting that happened. This is the reason why some people think the Second Amendment shouldn't be existing. All-year-round there are shootings like this. This man wasn't using his gun for protection now was he. This man was using his gun to hurt his girlfriend, her little sister, and other innocent people. If the Second Amendment wasn't ratified this would have never happened. This is why I believe the Second Amendment shouldn't have been passed. If you want to see more go on: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-07-calif-shooting_N.htm

Posted by Adrian V.

__Slaying Suspect Sends Flowers to Mistress__ By: Rebecca Baker & Shawn Cohen

A Chappaqua man shot and killed his wife on a road side but he sent flowers to his ex-girlfriend right before he killed her. She was shot in the back of the head on Route 100 Millwood. He pulled over onto a road side on Ileana Poole's birthday and shot his wife. It is said that he gave flowers to another girl before he killed his wife. This man, Carlos Perez-Olivo, was 55-years old, and he also suffered from clinical depression. He was accused of second degree murder and was taken out of the court in handcuffs with a $1 million bail. The other girl that he was having on-and-off affairs with besides his wife was Ileana Poole. Carlos also didn't pay his taxes and he is rich. He lives right next door to the Clintons.

This article is related to the Second Amendment because a woman was shot and killed by a gun. This would have never happened if there were restrictions on guns. If Carlos didn't get the gun he shot his wife with he would have never shot his wife and gone to prison. I think that there should be more restrictions on guns because many people around the world die from gun shootings each year, but if there were restrictions on guns then not as many gun shootings would occur. If you want to see more go on:http: [|//www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080105/NEWS02/801050347]**

=**Bibiliography:**=


 * [|*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution]
 * **Amendment 2 packet at school**
 * **American History Textbook**===[[image:2ndAmendmentPic.jpg width="219" height="338" align="right"]]===
 * **The New York Times**
 * **The Journal News**
 * **USA Today**
 * [[image:http://www.abelincolngunclub.com/images/nra1.gif width="228" height="248"]]